Bill Phillips decided to become a YMCA director while attending a teen Leadership Development Conference at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. He began his career as Boys’ Work secretary at his hometown Y in Pensacola, Fla. Beginning in 1962, he served in several leadership roles at the Central Florida YMCA in Orlando, and in 1968, Phillips returned to Pensacola as general director to lead the racial integration of that YMCA.
Phillips returned to the Central Florida YMCA during the 1970s as associate general director and then chief executive officer. He was the president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Seattle from 1982 to 1992, during which time two capital campaigns were completed and the budget tripled. He was appointed president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Houston (Texas) in 1992, a position he held until his retirement in 2002.
In Houston, the Y grew from $27 million to nearly $70 million. Four new facilities were constructed, 15 were renovated, and the funds were secured for three additional branches. Phillips served on the Board of Trustees of the YMCA Retirement and the National Board of the YMCA of the USA. He often said he was most proud of the fact that over 25 people who served on his staff went on to become chief executive officers, including five in the Urban Group.

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